Legal Services of Eastern Michigan - Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

Position Overview:

This position reports to the Executive Director (ED) and is an integral member of the senior management team. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is primarily responsible for managing the internal organizational systems and infrastructure to support successful operations of Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM). The CAO, with a broad and deep foundational knowledge of LSEM and its programs, serves as a link between finance, administration, management, and all other staff. This position works with LSEM’s Board of Directors as directed by the ED. In support to the ED, the CAO is responsible for promoting an inclusive culture of high performance, program evaluation and improvement, and innovation that supports the effective advancement of LSEM’s values and mission.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Operations

• Works with the administrative team and managers to oversee the overall administrative operations of LSEM and develops the people, systems and tools required to achieve excellent results and sustainable growth
• Identifies, develops, improves and implements policies, procedures and systems to ensure organizational efficiency and effectiveness
• Facilitates internal communications by assuming responsibility for convening regular meetings of staff, administration, management, and the Board of Directors
• Attends, and prepares agenda, minutes, and Advocacy Report for LSEM’s Board of Director’s Meetings as directed by the Executive Director

Grants

• Monitors compliance of grant and contract requirements in accordance with the laws, regulations, and program requirements governing them
• Assists the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer in complying with grant requirements, including rollout memos and meetings with staff, thorough and timely reporting, monitoring staff allocation, and billing as required by funders
• Provides regular data analysis to guide performance of grant objectives and ensure deliverables and to assist in program implementation, improvement, and expansion
• Coordinates routine correspondence with funders and responds to their inquiries, including timely follow up to funder audits and monitoring requests
• Develops dashboards or tools for effective and efficient communication of data findings

Evaluation and Planning

• Collaborates with the ED in creating and coordinating the process for developing the organization’s strategic plan and a system for tracking and reporting on the progress of the plan’s implementation; develops dashboards highlighting plan progress
• Assists senior management in administrative support
• Oversees the design, development, and implementation of a comprehensive system for measuring program/organizational performance and continuous improvement
• Coordinates the development of technology and emergency response plans, and the communication of such to all employees
• Stays abreast of national literature, best practices, and new trends in nonprofit management and culture, and legal aid and law firm operations with an eye toward future needs and creating a culture of high performance and continuous improvement

Procurement

• Works with the ED and Finance to support all purchasing and procurement activities

Other

• Provides special project management as assigned by the ED 
• Provides support and assistance to other functions of the organization as assigned by the ED

Supervision Received:

Supervision is provided by the Executive Director; position requires ability to perform with minimal supervision.

Supervision Exercised:

No direct reports.

Travel:

Minimal travel and would be primarily local during the business day.

Qualifications & Skills:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Consideration given for JD or post-graduate degree

Experience:

• Minimum of eight (8) to ten (10) years of professional experience, including (5) years management level experience
• Three (3) or more years related experience in grants administration and reporting experience including federal grants
• Track record of achieving results in a nonprofit or corporate environment with success in building rigorous systems, policies and tools to support a team

Skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Exceptionally strong problem-solving, financial, and analytical skills, with an ability to define strategic issues and make appropriate decisions
• Excellent quantitative skills and a proven ability to analyze performance management data and communicate to a diverse array of stakeholders internally and externally
• Demonstrated abilities to work independently, lead multiple projects, prioritize, and manage a high-volume of tasks, deadlines, requirements and decisions
• Ability to identify and resolve problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and offer solutions
• Ability to maintain supporting records in an orderly fashion and generate reports across a wide variety of platforms
• Ability to work under pressure, interact with diverse individuals, and focus on different tasks simultaneously
• Ability to portray a positive persona with the public and be a positive representative of the organization
• Ability to maintain patience, anticipate needs and problems, and suggest ways to resolve them
• Experience working with governing bodies, including boards of directors, advisory committees, funders and clients
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse personalities, and the wide variety of professional backgrounds and experiences
• Highly proficient and knowledgeable in the use of computer software and tools
• Mission-driven; passionate about LSEM’s mission 
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion 
• Commitment to working with low income communities

Salary:

•  Compensation is commensurate with qualifications

Application:

Interested applicants should email a resume, references, and cover letter to: humanresources@lsem-mi.org. Deadline for external applications is June 23, 2021.

LSEM is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We encourage all applicants to apply regardless of age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, marital status, medical conditions, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.